Houden, Helen Loraine 1924-2008
HOUDEN, MARTIN, HAMILTON, BURTON, STENNERSON, MEDINE, CEASAR
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/9/2012 at 11:05:40
Helen L. Houden, age 84, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, June 19, 2008 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah following a short illness.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, June 23, 2008 at Decorah Lutheran Church by Rev. Bryan Robertson and Rev. Allen Vik. Inurnment will be on Wednesday, June 25 at Highland Garden of Memories in Belvidere, IL.
Friends may call after 10:00 A.M. Monday at the church. Fjelstul Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Helen Loraine Houden was born February 5, 1924 in Belvidere, IL, the daughter of Avalt R. and Mollie (Martin) Houden. She attended St. John’s Evangelical Reformed church in Belvidere and received honor for 10 years of perfect attendance. She graduated from 8th grade in 1938 and received the American Legion Award and was May Queen at the May festival. She received a scholarship from H. K. Funderburg for education at Juilliard School of Music and after graduation from Belvidere High School in 1942, Helen attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York, NY earning a BS degree in 1947 and an MS degree in 1949.
In 1950 Helen was united in marriage with George Hamilton from New York City. To this union two children were born: George H. Hamilton, JR and Heidi L. Hamilton.
Helen spent a total of 47 years as a professor. She was an Associate Professor of Voice, teaching at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY from 1949-1951, MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL from 1951-1955, Rockford College in Rockford, IL from 1955-1967 and at Luther College in Decorah from 1967-1995. In 1984 she presented a research paper at the prestigious organization “Care of the Professional Voice” at the Juilliard concert hall in New York City.
Her memberships included Decorah Lutheran Church and Silvercrest Golf & Country Club. She served as President of Town & Country Garden Club and she was choir director at Decorah Lutheran Church, as well as serving as a choir member. She was also Baker for Luther College Women’s Club, organized PWP in Decorah in 1968, organized NATS vocal competition at Luther College and gave vocal recitals about every year at Luther.
Helen became a resident of the Barthell O.E.S. Home on May 21, 2008.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Theresa Burton, Frieda Stennerson, Nora Medine and Celia Ceasar; her brothers, Ernest Houden, Fritz Houden and Lloyd Houden.
She is survived by her son, George Hamilton of Decorah, IA; her daughter, Heidi Hamilton of Las Vegas, NV; her brothers, Richard (Dorothy) Houden of Madison, WI and Benjamin (Dee) Houden, Sun City, AZ; three grandchildren: Aaidon, Cole and Cameron Hamilton of Decorah, IA.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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